Airborne wireless communications systems, airborne communications methods, and communications methods

ABSTRACT

An airborne wireless communications system includes circuitry configured to access information describing a configuration of a terrestrial wireless communications base station that has become disabled. The terrestrial base station is configured to implement wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network when the terrestrial base station is not disabled. The circuitry is further configured to, based on the information, configure the airborne station to have the configuration of the terrestrial base station. An airborne communications method includes answering a 911 call from a terrestrial cellular wireless phone using an airborne wireless communications system.

CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The United States Government has certain rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC07-05-ID14517 between the United States Department of Energy and Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to airborne wireless communications systems, airborne communications methods, and communications methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Reliance on wireless telephone service is widespread. However, wireless telephone service may be interrupted when wireless base stations used to provide wireless telephone service become inoperable. In some situations, a wireless service provider may quickly restore wireless telephone service by repairing an inoperable base station.

However, in other situations, natural disasters or other events may prevent the wireless service provider from restoring service for an extended period. For example, the wireless service provider might not be able to remedy power outages and/or communication circuit outages for several days or weeks. During these times of service outage, people might not be able to call a 911 operator using a wireless phone. Consequently, loss of property, severe injury, and/or death may result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of a communications system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating communications restoration according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative representation of a communications system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an airborne wireless communications system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative representation of an emergency communications system according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts.” (Article 1, Section 8).

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, apparatus and methods for airborne communications are described. In one embodiment, an airborne wireless communications system provides wireless communications service within a geographical area associated with a disabled terrestrial wireless communications base station. The airborne wireless communications system may continue to provide the wireless communications service as an airborne vehicle carrying the airborne wireless communications system moves. In one embodiment, an airborne wireless communications system may answer 911 emergency phone calls. Additional aspects of the disclosure are described in the illustrative embodiments below.

According to one embodiment, an airborne wireless communications system comprises circuitry configured to access information describing a configuration of a terrestrial wireless communications base station that has become disabled. The terrestrial base station is configured to implement wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network when the terrestrial base station is not disabled. The circuitry is further configured to, based on the information, configure the airborne wireless communications system to have the configuration of the terrestrial base station.

According to another embodiment, an airborne wireless communications system comprises circuitry configured to first access first information regarding a geographical area in which a terrestrial base station is configured to provide wireless communications, second access second information regarding a moving airborne vehicle comprising the airborne wireless communications system, use the first and second information to control the airborne wireless communications system so that a coverage area of the airborne wireless communications system includes the geographical area as the airborne vehicle moves, and implement wireless communications between wireless communications devices located within the geographical area and a network using the airborne wireless communications system.

According to another embodiment, a communications method comprises, using a terrestrial wireless communications base station, first implementing wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network at a first moment in time and, using an airborne wireless communications system, second implementing wireless communications between the wireless devices and the network at a later second moment in time.

According to another embodiment, an airborne communications method comprises first accessing first information regarding a geographical area in which a terrestrial base station is configured to provide wireless communications, second accessing second information regarding a moving airborne vehicle comprising an airborne wireless communications system, and using the first and second information, configuring the airborne wireless communications system so that a coverage area of the airborne wireless communications system includes the geographical area as the airborne vehicle moves.

According to another embodiment, an airborne communications method comprises answering a 911 call from a terrestrial wireless phone using an airborne wireless communications system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a communications system 100 according to one embodiment is illustrated. System 100 includes an airborne vehicle 102, (e.g., an airplane, helicopter, stratospheric blimp, tethered aerostat, unmanned aircraft, balloon, high altitude long endurance aircraft, fast moving aircraft, etc.) carrying an airborne wireless communications system 104. System 100 further includes a wireless communications network 105. In one configuration, airborne vehicle 102 is located within the earth's atmosphere and may be located an appropriate distance with respect to the ground (e.g., between 5,000 feet and 70,000 feet) to receive communications from terrestrial wireless communications devices. In one embodiment, examples of terrestrial wireless communications devices include devices capable of wireless communications within a terrestrial cellular network and may include cellular phones, blackberry devices, smartphones, laptops, mobile broadband cards, etc.

In one example cellular telephone arrangement, wireless communications network 105 includes a plurality of terrestrial base stations 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116; a Network Operations Center (NOC) 136 (sometimes referred to as a Mobile Telephone Switching Office); and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 130. MSC 130 may be connected to a voice network 134 (e.g., the public switched telephone network or an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)) and/or a data network 135 (e.g., the Internet).

Each of the plurality of terrestrial base stations may provide wireless communications service within a geographical area. For example, base station 111 may provide wireless communications within geographical area 121. Similarly, base stations 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 may provide wireless communications within geographical areas 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 respectively. Although the geographical areas of FIG. 1 are illustrated as hexagons of approximately the same size, individual ones of the geographical areas may each be different sizes and different shapes.

The terrestrial base stations of FIG. 1 may provide wireless communications service to wireless communications devices (e.g., cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, etc.) such as wireless communications device 128. As used herein, the term terrestrial base station includes a terrestrial Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a terrestrial access point, and a terrestrial Node B. Terrestrial base station 111 provides wireless communications service to device 128 in the example of FIG. 1. For example, the wireless communications service may be a telephone service. In this example, wireless communications device 128 may communicate voice information wirelessly with base station 111. Base station 111 may relay the voice information via a communications link to MSC 130, which may then relay the voice information to voice network 134. Alternatively, the wireless communications service may be a data service in which data from device 128 may be relayed by MSC 130 to data network 135 via wireless communications network 105.

A plurality of configuration parameters may influence the manner in which the terrestrial base stations of FIG. 1 provide wireless communications service to their respective geographical areas. Some of these configuration parameters may influence the sizes and shapes of the geographical areas. For example, a location of base station 111 and a height, orientation, and type of an antenna of terrestrial base station 111 may influence the size and shape of geographical area 121.

Others of the configuration parameters may influence a signal transmitted by the terrestrial base stations. For example, terrestrial base station 111 may operate according to parameters specifying codes, channels, frequencies, bandwidths, power levels, modulation schemes (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), or Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)), and the like. Wireless communications device 128 may also operate according to these signal parameters to communicate with base station 111.

Individual ones of the terrestrial base stations of FIG. 1 may operate using different values for the configuration parameters described above. For example, base station 111 may operate using a first frequency, and base station 112 may operate using a different second frequency. In one embodiment, the configuration parameter values of the terrestrial base stations may be known to or stored by NOC 136 and/or MSC 130.

One or more of the terrestrial base stations of FIG. 1 may become disabled for a significant amount of time. For example, a natural disaster or other event may interrupt power to one of the base stations or may damage the antenna of one of the base stations. Consequently, wireless communications devices may be unable to communicate with the disabled base station. For example, if base station 111 becomes disabled, device 128, which is located in geographical area 121, may no longer be able to communicate with base station 111 and may therefore be unable to communicate with network 134 and/or network 135.

If base station 111 cannot be readily repaired, airborne system 104 may be configured, in one embodiment, to provide wireless communications service for geographical area 121 so that device 128 may communicate with network 134 and/or network 135. Airborne system 104 may include one or more of a base station, a base station controller, or an MSC. To serve geographical area 121, airborne system 104 may be configured using parameter values associated with disabled base station 111 such as the frequency and modulation type of base station 111.

To be configured in such a way to act as a substitute for a disabled base station, airborne system 104 may access configuration parameter values for base station 111. In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may retrieve the configuration parameter values from NOC 136 via a wireless communications channel 140 or MSC 130 via a wireless communications channel 142. Upon accessing the configuration parameter values for base station 111, airborne system 104 may configure itself to operate according to the configuration parameter values. Once airborne system 104 has been configured with the configuration parameter values of base station 111, airborne system 104 may provide wireless communications service to geographical area 121.

For example, airborne system 104 may receive wireless communication from device 128 (located in geographical area 121) and relay the communication to MSC 130 via a wireless communication channel 142. MSC 130 may then forward the communication to network 134 and/or network 135. Consequently, in one embodiment, airborne system 104 enables device 128 to communicate with network 134 and/or network 135 despite the fact that terrestrial base station 111 is disabled.

In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may be configured with the configuration parameter values of more than one disabled terrestrial base station. For example, if terrestrial base stations 111 and 113 are both disabled, airborne system 104 may access configuration parameter values for both base station 111 and base station 113 and may then configure airborne system 104 with configuration parameter values for base station 111 and with configuration parameter values for base station 113.

Consequently, airborne system 104 may simultaneously implement communications between wireless communications devices located in geographical area 121 and MSC 130 and may also implement communications between wireless communications devices located in geographical area 123 and MSC 130.

In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may be operated by a network operator that also operates network 105. Alternatively, airborne system 104 may be operated by someone other than the operator that operates network 105. For example, airborne system 104 may be operated by a governmental agency responsible for communications during times of emergency. In this example, the network operator of network 105 may cooperate with the governmental agency by providing configuration parameter values for disabled terrestrial base stations to the governmental agency for use in the airborne system 104.

In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may provide communications for disabled terrestrial base stations operated by one network operator and provide communications for disabled terrestrial base stations operated by a different network operator. Accordingly, airborne system 104 may simultaneously implement communications between first wireless communications devices associated with a first wireless communications network operated by a first operator and implement communications between second wireless communications devices associated with a second wireless communications network operated by a second operator. The first wireless communications devices may be configured to operate using a first modulation scheme and the second wireless communications devices may be configured to operate using a different second modulation scheme. Consequently, airborne system 104 may simultaneously implement communications using two different modulation schemes located in the same or different geographical areas.

To provide wireless communications service in geographical area 121, airborne system 104 may, in one embodiment, focus a directional antenna of airborne system 104 onto geographical area 121. To do so, airborne system 104 may first access configuration parameter values describing geographical area 121. For example, airborne system 104 may request information such as the antenna height, orientation, and type of the antenna of terrestrial base station 111, as well as the location of base station 111, from NOC 136 or MSC 130.

Upon receiving the information, airborne system 104 may use the information to determine boundaries of geographical area 121 and may then configure the directional antenna to provide coverage in geographical area 121. Alternatively, NOC 136 or MSC 130 may provide the boundaries of geographical area 121 to airborne system 104.

In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may configure the directional antenna to provide coverage substantially only in geographical area 121. Doing so may reduce interference between airborne system 104 and a terrestrial base station of network 105 that may be using the same frequency or code as airborne system 104.

In one embodiment, airborne vehicle 102 may remain substantially stationary. Accordingly, once airborne system 104 has focused the directional antenna on geographical area 121, airborne system 104 might not need to refocus the directional antenna unless airborne vehicle 102 moves. However, in other embodiments, airborne vehicle 102 may travel in an orbit near network 105. For example, if airborne vehicle 102 is an airplane, the airplane may not be able to remain stationary and therefore may orbit near network 105.

Referring to FIG. 2, airborne vehicle 102 is illustrated traveling in an orbit 202 near network 105. By way of example, geographical areas 121 and 123 are shaded to indicate that terrestrial base stations 111 and 113 are disabled and therefore unable to provide wireless communication service to geographical areas 121 and 123. Thus, in this example, airborne system 104 is configured to provide wireless communication service for geographical areas 121 and 123.

At position 204, airborne system 104, in one embodiment, may focus one directional antenna of airborne system 104 on geographical area 121 and another directional antenna of airborne system 104 on geographical area 123. In another embodiment, airborne system 104 may comprise an adaptive array antenna configured to simultaneously focus two or more signals each in different directions and airborne system 104 may configure the adaptive array antenna to communicate signals with respect to geographical area 121 and communicate signals with respect to geographical area 123. Other antenna configurations are also possible.

As airborne vehicle 102 moves, airborne system 104 may adjust the configuration of one or more antennas of airborne system 104 so that airborne system 104 continues to transmit signals covering geographical areas 121 and 123 despite the fact that airborne vehicle 102 is changing position relative to geographical areas 121 and 123. In one embodiment, airborne system 104 may access information regarding the position and/or movement of airborne vehicle 102. For example, airborne system 104 may retrieve information such as the position, direction, speed, and orientation from airborne vehicle 102. Airborne system 104 may use the retrieved information to configure one or more antennas of airborne system 104 so that the one or more antennas continue to cover geographical areas 121 and 123 as airborne vehicle 102 moves through orbit 202 passing through positions 204, 206, 208, and 210. Consequently, airborne system 104 may implement wireless communication between devices located in geographical areas 121 and 123 and MSC 130 as airborne vehicle 102 moves through orbit 202.

Airborne system 104 may receive information from NOC 136 via wireless channel 140 while airborne vehicle 102 is orbiting regarding status of the terrestrial base stations of network 105. For example, NOC 136 may inform airborne system 104 that terrestrial base station 111 is now operational. In response, airborne system 104 may discontinue providing wireless communications service in geographical area 121 but may continue providing wireless communications service in geographical area 123. By discontinuing the wireless service soon after base station 111 becomes operational, airborne system 104 reduces the possibility of interference between signals transmitted by airborne system 104 and terrestrial base station 111.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative configuration of network 105 is illustrated in which MSC 130 is disabled. MSC 130 may be disabled, for example, due to physical damage resulting from a natural disaster. Consequently, terrestrial base stations 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 are also disabled since MSC 130, which connects the terrestrial base stations to networks 134 and/or 135, is disabled. Accordingly, geographical areas 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 are illustrated with shading in FIG. 3 to indicate that terrestrial base stations 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 are disabled. In this configuration, airborne system 104 may provide wireless communications service to geographical areas 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126.

In one embodiment, network 105 may include temporary MSC 302 which may be configured to replace disabled MSC 130. MSC 302 may be a mobile MSC that can be transported to an area impacted by a natural disaster. Alternatively, MSC 302 may be a permanent facility not necessarily located near MSC 130. Like MSC 130, MSC 302 may be connected to voice network 134 and/or data network 135. In providing wireless communications service to geographical areas 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126, airborne system 104 may implement wireless communication between devices located in geographical areas 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 and MSC 302 via a wireless communications link 304. In one embodiment, wireless communications link 304 may be a satellite communications link.

In another embodiment, airborne system 104 may include a base station, a base station controller, and an MSC. In this embodiment, airborne system 104 may communicate with a ground station (not illustrated) via link 304. The ground station may be connected to voice network 134 and/or data network 135 and may be configured to receive voice or data information from airborne system 104. In this embodiment, airborne system 104 may implement communications between devices located in geographical areas 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 and networks 134 and/or 135 via the ground station.

Referring to FIG. 4, a block diagram of one embodiment of airborne system 104 is illustrated. Airborne system 104 may include storage circuitry 402, processing circuitry 404, communications circuitry 406, radio circuitry 408, and an antenna 410. As was mentioned above, airborne system 104 may additionally include a base station controller and/or an MSC, neither of which are illustrated in FIG. 4.

Processing circuitry 404 may comprise circuitry configured to implement desired programming provided by appropriate media in at least one embodiment. For example, processing circuitry 404 may be implemented as one or more of a processor and/or other structure configured to execute executable instructions including, for example, software and/or firmware instructions, and/or hardware circuitry. Exemplary embodiments of processing circuitry 404 include hardware logic, PGA, FPGA, ASIC, state machines, and/or other structures alone or in combination with a processor. These examples of processing circuitry 404 are for illustration and other configurations are possible.

Processing circuitry 404 may be configured to access configuration information (e.g., configuration parameter values) for terrestrial base stations and use the configuration information to configure radio circuitry 408 so that radio circuitry 408 is configured similarly to one or more disabled terrestrial base stations as was described above in relation to FIG. 1. In one embodiment, processing circuitry 404 may use communication circuitry 406 to request and/or receive configuration information from NOC 136 or MSC 130. In another embodiment, the configuration information may be stored in storage circuitry 402 and processing circuitry 404 may access the configuration information by requesting it from storage circuitry 402. Processing circuitry 404 may also, in one embodiment, access data regarding position and/or movement of airborne vehicle 102 and data regarding geographical locations of disabled base stations and control antenna 410 to focus antenna 410 on one or more geographical areas of the disabled base stations.

In one embodiment, storage circuitry 402 may contain configuration information for many or even all of the terrestrial base stations of a wireless communications network. The configuration information may be copied from a repository of configuration information. The repository may be maintained by a wireless network operator and may store configuration information for many or all of the terrestrial base stations operated by the network operator. The repository may be stored away from an MSC so that if the MSC is damaged or destroyed, the configuration information may still be intact.

Prior to or after becoming airborne, in one embodiment, storage circuitry 402 may be loaded with configuration information for many or all of the terrestrial base stations within communications range of airborne system 104. Using this approach, NOC 136 may let airborne system 104 know which terrestrial base stations are disabled. In response, processing circuitry 404 may retrieve configuration information for the disabled base stations from storage circuitry 402 rather than having to retrieve the configuration information from NOC 136 or MSC 130.

Storage circuitry 402 may be embodied in a number of different ways using electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or other techniques for storing information. Some specific examples of storage circuitry include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette, such as a floppy diskette, zip disk, hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or other configurations capable of storing programming, data, or other digital information.

At least some embodiments or aspects described herein may be implemented using programming stored within appropriate processor-usable media and/or communicated via a network or other transmission media and configured to control appropriate processing circuitry. For example, programming may be provided via appropriate media including, for example, embodied within articles of manufacture, embodied within a data signal (e.g., modulated carrier wave, data packets, digital representations, etc.) communicated via an appropriate transmission medium, such as a communication network (e.g., the Internet and/or a private network), wired electrical connection, optical connection and/or electromagnetic energy, for example, via a communications interface, or provided using other appropriate communication structure or medium. Exemplary programming including processor-usable code may be communicated as a data signal embodied in a carrier wave in but one example.

Communications circuitry 406 may communicate with NOC 136, MSC 130, and/or MSC 302 via a wireless communications channel such as channel 140, 142, or 304. In one embodiment, communications circuitry 406 may be satellite communications circuitry configured to communicate with NOC 136, MSC 130, and/or MSC 302 via a satellite. Communications circuitry 406 may forward information it receives to processing circuitry 404.

Radio circuitry 408 is configured to communicate with wireless communications devices (e.g., device 128) located in one or more of the geographical areas of FIG. 1 via wireless links. Radio circuitry 408 may be configured by processing circuitry 404 according to configuration information associated with a disabled terrestrial base station. Furthermore, as was discussed above, radio circuitry 408 may be configured according to configuration information from more than one disabled terrestrial base station. In one embodiment, radio circuitry 408 is substantially similar to radio circuitry located in the terrestrial base stations of FIG. 1.

Upon demodulating wireless communications received from a wireless communications device, radio circuitry 408 may forward the demodulated communications to communications circuitry 406, which may in turn modulate and forward the communications to MSC 130 or MSC 302 (or to a ground station as was mentioned above). Similarly, communications circuitry 406 may receive wireless communications from MSC 130 or MSC 302. Upon demodulating the communications, communications circuitry 406 may forward the communications to radio circuitry 408, which may then modulate and transmit the communications to a terrestrial wireless communications device (e.g., device 128) via antenna 410. In one embodiment, a modulation/demodulation scheme used between radio circuitry 408 and device 128 may be different from a modulation/demodulation scheme used between communications circuitry 406 and MSC 130 or MSC 302.

As was discussed above, in one embodiment, antenna 410 may be an adaptive array antenna that is configured to be electronically steered to create a desired directional radiation pattern. For example, antenna 410 may be a phased array, a smart antenna, or a beam forming antenna. In some configurations of airborne system 104, multiple antennas may be used.

In the above discussion, techniques have been described that provide wireless communications services to wireless communication devices (e.g., cellular phones) during times when a terrestrial base station is disabled. In emergency situations, techniques for using an airborne system to handle phone calls requesting emergency services (e.g., 911 calls) may be of benefit. Such techniques are described below.

Referring to FIG. 5, an emergency communications system 500 according to one embodiment is illustrated. System 500 includes airborne vehicle 102, an airborne emergency communications system 501, a satellite 518, an emergency responder 532, terrestrial base station 111, a public safety answering point (PSAP) (i.e., a 911 operator) 522, and an emergency operations center (EOC) 526.

In one embodiment, airborne system 501 may communicate with wireless communications device 128 when terrestrial base station 111 is disabled. More specifically, airborne system 501 may answer phone calls made to reserved emergency phone numbers (e.g., 911 phone calls) made by device 128. In one embodiment, upon answering an emergency phone call, airborne system 501 may connect the phone call to an interactive voice response unit (IVR) allowing a caller who placed the emergency phone call using device 128 to hear a pre-recorded message (e.g., a message instructing the caller to hold or a message informing the caller that base station 111 is disabled and therefore emergency calls are being handled by airborne system 501).

In some embodiments, the IVR may ask the caller to provide information. For example, the IVR may ask the caller what kind of emergency they are reporting (e.g., fire, flood, crime, bodily injury, etc.), the number of people involved in the emergency, the severity of the emergency, and the like.

Airborne system 501 may determine information from the emergency phone call such as a phone number of device 128 and a location of device 128. In one embodiment, airborne system 501 may use techniques associated with wireless enhanced 911 services (e.g., GPS location reported by device 128) to determine the location of device 128.

Airborne system 501 may report the phone call information (e.g., location of device 128 and phone number of device 128) as well as information gathered from the caller by the IVR to emergency personnel on the ground. For example, airborne system 501 may transmit the information via satellite 518 to a terrestrial communications device (e.g., a satellite receiver or satellite transceiver) located at PSAP 522 or to a terrestrial communications device located at EOC 526. EOC 526 may be a location where emergency personnel monitor a geographical area affected by a natural disaster. For example, following a hurricane, an EOC may be established where government leaders and emergency response leaders (e.g., police, fire, medical) receive information regarding conditions in the geographical area and based on the information dispatch resources (e.g., first responders such as firefighters, ambulances, police, etc.) to the geographical area. In one embodiment, EOC 526 may receive satellite imagery of the geographical area affected by the natural disaster. Furthermore, EOC 526 may map locations of 911 phone calls using location information provided by airborne system 501. PSAP 522 may be a PSAP locate near the geographical area affected by the natural disaster or may be a remotely located PSAP.

PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 may use the information provided by airborne system 501 to determine areas of greatest need. For example, EOC 526 may map the locations of devices making 911 calls answered by airborne system 501 using information provided by airborne system 501. Further, PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 may dispatch first responders (e.g., fire, ambulance, police) based on the information received from airborne system 501. In one embodiment, PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 may communicate with a first responder (e.g., emergency responder 532) via satellite 518 and airborne system 501. In this case, airborne system 501 may communicate wirelessly with emergency responder 532.

In one embodiment, PSAP 522 or EOC 526 may request that airborne system 501 provide voice communications with device 128. In response, airborne system 501 may implement voice communications between device 128 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 using satellite 518 so that emergency personnel may speak with the caller associated with device 128. In doing so, airborne system 501 might not rely on disabled base station 111 or on other portions of network 105 to relay the call. In other words, airborne system 501 may relay the call independent of network 105.

In one embodiment, airborne system 501 may enable data communications between device 128 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526. For example, airborne system 501 may enable text communications between device 128 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526.

PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 need not be near geographical area 121. In fact, since airborne system 501 may use satellite 518 to communicate with PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526, PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 may be located a great distance away from geographical area 121 (e.g., in another state). Of course, airborne system 501 may alternatively use wireless communications techniques not involving satellite 518 that enable wireless communications between airborne system 501 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526.

In one embodiment, airborne vehicle 102 may fly in an orbit near network 105 when network 105 is disabled. In another embodiment, airborne vehicle 102 may fly near a remote area where wireless communications service is weak or non-existent. For example, if a person known to have a wireless communications device (e.g., a cellular phone) is lost in a remote area with weak or non-existent wireless communications service, airborne vehicle 102 may fly near the remote area to receive a phone call made by the person.

Airborne system 501, according to one embodiment, includes radio circuitry 408, processing circuitry 512, antenna 410, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway 528, network 514, radio gateway 530, and communications circuitry 516.

In one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may configure radio circuitry 408 to accept only calls made to a reserved emergency number (e.g., 911) and to reject other calls. This may be done to increase the likelihood that radio circuitry 408 will be available when a wireless communications device such as device 128 places a 911 call.

In one embodiment, airborne system 501 may enable voice communications between device 128 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526. In one embodiment, radio circuitry 408 may receive modulated voice information from device 128, convert the modulated voice information to baseband voice information, and provide the baseband voice information to VoIP gateway 528. Processing circuitry 512 may instruct VoIP gateway 528 to convert the baseband voice information into IP packets that may be sent to PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 via network 514 and communications circuitry 516.

Similarly, in one embodiment, airborne system 501 may enable voice communications between PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 and device 128. To do so, processing circuitry 512 may instruct VoIP gateway 528 to convert VoIP packets received from PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 to baseband voice information and to send the baseband voice information to radio circuitry 408. Radio circuitry 408 may then modulate the baseband voice information and transmit the modulated voice information to device 128 using antenna 410.

Similarly, in one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may enable voice communications between emergency responder 532 and PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526. In one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may instruct radio gateway 530 to receive modulated voice information from emergency responder 532, convert the modulated voice information to VoIP packets, and provide the VoIP packets to communications circuitry 516, which may then send the VoIP packets to PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526 via satellite 518. In a similar manner, radio gateway 530 may receive VoIP packets from PSAP 522 and/or EOC 526, convert the VoIP packets into modulated voice information, and transmit the modulated voice information to emergency responder 532.

Similarly, in one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may enable voice communications between emergency responder 532 and device 128. In one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may instruct radio gateway 530 to receive modulated voice information from emergency responder 532, convert the modulated voice information to VoIP packets, and provide the VoIP packets to VoIP gateway 528. Processing circuitry 512 may instruct VoIP gateway 528 to convert the VoIP packets to baseband voice information and send the baseband voice information to radio circuitry 408, which may then modulate the baseband voice information and transmit the modulated baseband voice information to device 128 via antenna 410.

In a similar manner, radio circuitry 408 may modulate voice information from device 128, may convert the modulated voice information to baseband voice information and send the baseband voice information to VoIP gateway 528. VoIP gateway 528 may convert the baseband voice information to VoIP packets and send the VoIP packets to radio gateway 530, which may then convert the VoIP packets to modulated voice information and transmit the modulated voice information to emergency responder 532.

In one embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may configure antenna 410 so that antenna 410 is focused on a particular geographical area as airborne vehicle 102 travels as was described above. In another embodiment, processing circuitry 512 may configure antenna 410 to radiate and receive in an omnidirectional pattern so that radio circuitry 408 may receive emergency phone calls from a large geographical area.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Further, aspects herein have been presented for guidance in construction and/or operation of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Applicant(s) hereof consider these described illustrative embodiments to also include, disclose and describe further inventive aspects in addition to those explicitly disclosed. For example, the additional inventive aspects may include less, more and/or alternative features than those described in the illustrative embodiments. In more specific examples, Applicants consider the disclosure to include, disclose and describe methods which include less, more and/or alternative steps than those methods explicitly disclosed as well as apparatus which includes less, more and/or alternative structure than the explicitly disclosed structure. 

1. An airborne wireless communications system comprising: circuitry configured to access information describing a configuration of a terrestrial wireless communications base station that has become disabled, the terrestrial base station being configured to implement wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network when the terrestrial base station is not disabled, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to, based on the information, configure the airborne wireless communications system to have the configuration of the terrestrial base station.
 2. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the wireless devices comprise cellular communications devices and the circuitry is further configured to implement wireless communications between the cellular communications devices located within the geographical area and the network after configuring the airborne wireless communications system to have the configuration of the terrestrial base station.
 3. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to simultaneously implement wireless communications for two different disabled terrestrial base stations using two different wireless modulation technologies.
 4. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises channel numbers indicative of radio frequencies used by the terrestrial wireless communications base station and the wireless devices.
 5. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises one of a plurality of a modulation schemes for implementing communication between the airborne wireless communications system and the wireless devices.
 6. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a description of the geographical area.
 7. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further configured to focus a directional antenna of the airborne wireless communications system onto the geographical area.
 8. The airborne system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to access the information while onboard an airborne vehicle within the atmosphere of the earth.
 9. An airborne wireless communications system comprising circuitry configured to: first access first information regarding a geographical area in which a terrestrial base station is configured to provide wireless communications; second access second information regarding a moving airborne vehicle comprising the airborne wireless communications system; use the first and second information to control the airborne wireless communications system so that a coverage area of the airborne wireless communications system includes the geographical area as the airborne vehicle moves; and implement wireless communications between wireless communications devices located within the geographical area and a network using the airborne wireless communications system.
 10. The airborne wireless communications system of claim 9 wherein the circuitry is configured to use the first and second information to control a directional antenna to cover the geographical area.
 11. A communications method comprising: using a terrestrial wireless communications base station, first implementing wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network at a first moment in time; and using an airborne wireless communications system, second implementing wireless communications between the wireless devices and the network at a later second moment in time.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless devices are cellular communications devices and the second implementing comprises implementing the wireless communications using the airborne wireless communications system implemented in an airborne vehicle within the atmosphere of the earth.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the airborne system travels in an orbit near the geographical area.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the second implementing comprises focusing a directional antenna of the airborne wireless communications system onto the geographical area.
 15. An airborne communications method comprising: first accessing first information regarding a geographical area in which a terrestrial base station is configured to provide wireless communications; second accessing second information regarding a moving airborne vehicle comprising an airborne wireless communications system; and using the first and second information, configuring the airborne wireless communications system so that a coverage area of the airborne wireless communications system includes the geographical area as the airborne vehicle moves.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the terrestrial base station comprises a cellular terrestrial base station and further comprising implement wireless communications between wireless communications devices located within the geographical area and a network using the configured airborne wireless communications system.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second information comprises a position of the airborne vehicle.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the configuring comprises focusing a directional antenna of the airborne system onto the geographical area.
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the coverage area of the airborne wireless communications system is substantially the same as the geographical area.
 20. The method of claim 15: wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to provide wireless communications between wireless devices located within the geographical area and a switching center of the network during times when the terrestrial base station is enabled; and further comprising replacing communications between the terrestrial base station and the wireless devices and communications between the terrestrial base station and the network respectively with communications between the airborne system and the wireless devices and communications between the airborne system and a temporary switching center of the network when the terrestrial base station and the switching center are disabled.
 21. An airborne communications method comprising answering a 911 call from a terrestrial cellular wireless phone using an airborne wireless communications system.
 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising: determining information regarding the 911 call, the information comprising a location of the terrestrial wireless phone and a phone number of the terrestrial wireless phone; and forwarding the information regarding the 911 call to a terrestrial communications device.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the terrestrial communications device provides the information to a public safety answering point.
 24. The method of claim 22 further comprising enabling voice communications between the terrestrial wireless phone and the terrestrial communications device using the airborne system, at least one satellite communications link, and a voice over Internet Protocol gateway.
 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising preventing the airborne system from handling phone calls other than 911 calls. 